The University of Queensland’s Oral Health Centre had a good run at the 2016 Queensland Architecture Awards, winning the FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture, an Award for Interior Architecture, and an Award for Sustainable Architecture.

UQ’s Oral Health Centre is a $120-million, 30,000-square-metre advanced teaching and research facility designed to accommodate 400 students while also functioning as Australia’s largest public dentist. The facility was recognised by the jury for ‘establishing a unique benchmark’ in its collaborative student spaces and public interface.

The Oral Health Centre features Blackbutt timber ‘fins’ from Urbanline Architectural encasing the building’s steel posts, while creating a seamless transition to the native gum trees outside. Fully customised and precision-machined by Urbanline, the fins are complemented by a matching staircase handrail.

Urbanline Managing Director Brenden Parker said they were proud to contribute to the architecturally-significant project, which delivered exceptional outcomes despite major design and sourcing challenges.

Urbanline created special profiles for the building’s timber fins that would allow for natural timber movement. Over 7,000 lineal metres of high quality Blackbutt were successfully sourced and supplied, with precise manufacturing by Urbanline ensuring a smooth installation.